Why "Good Enough"?

Finding joy in the space between mediocrity and perfection

Hello, and welcome to the debut edition of agoodenough.life – a newsletter dedicated to the radical idea that maybe, just maybe, "good enough" deserves more credit than we give it.

I created this newsletter because I've experienced and witnessed the pursuit of perfection robbing people of present joy in exchange for a future ideal that may not arrive.

The Perfection Trap

We live in a world obsessed with the best—the best career, the best decisions, the best version of ourselves. From school to work, relationships, and even hobbies, the message is clear: keep pushing, keep optimizing, keep striving for perfection.

On social media, we're bombarded with highlight reels of perfect lives. In bookstores, bestsellers promise to help us maximize productivity and optimize our habits. Even self-care is overwhelmed with the perfect meditation practice, the perfect morning routine, the perfect work-life balance.

This narrative can be exhausting and often harmful.

The Cost of "Perfect"

Here are some ways this relentless pursuit of perfection costs us:

• Mental wellness: Anxiety, burnout, and frustration finds they way in when we constantly measure ourselves against moving reference points.

• Time: Hours, days, years spent finding something perfect while it didn’t really matter at the end (20 minutes to choose a bread to buy?)

• Joy: We fail to appreciate what we have while we're striving for what could be

But here’s the problem: even the best eventually falls short. The bar keeps moving, expectations rise this constant chase fuels stress, self-doubt, and an exhausting cycle of never quite arriving.

Yet, along the way, we overlook good enough solutions—ones that serve us well enough to move forward, find joy, and actually live our lives.

What "Good Enough" Really Means

"Good enough" isn't about settling for mediocrity or giving up on growth. It's about making intentional choices about where to allocate your limited time and energy because any additional effort may no longer justify the costs.

Think about the last time you spent hours researching the "perfect" option – maybe it was a phone, a vacation destination, or even a recipe for dinner. You dedicated significant time and mental energy to finding the absolute best choice.

But along that journey were dozens of "good enough" options – choices that would have met your needs, brought you satisfaction, and saved you the stress of continued searching.

What if we started noticing and appreciating those good enough moments instead? The almost-right career move that still brought growth. The slightly messy, unpolished attempt that got the job done.

That’s what this newsletter is about. agoodenough.life is here to highlight those moments in everyday life—through stories, insights, and research—to remind us that “good enough” is often more than enough.

What This Newsletter Offers

agoodenough.life is dedicated to highlighting those "good enough" moments in our everyday lives through:

• Stories: Real-world examples of people finding peace and success in embracing "good enough"

• Insights: Practical wisdom for recognizing when "good enough" is actually optimal

• Research: Evidence from psychology, behavioral science, and other fields showing the benefits of letting go of perfectionism

• Practices: Simple exercises to help you identify and embrace "good enough" in various aspects of your life

Join Me on This Journey

At a “good enough” cadence, I'll share new perspectives, practical tools, and thought-provoking ideas to help you appreciate the "good enough" moments in your life.

Because sometimes, "good enough" isn't just good enough. Sometimes, it's exactly what we need.

Sanil

p.s. I published this newsletter as soon as I realized it was “good enough”

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A Moment of Reflection

Before you get busy with your day, take 30 seconds to consider: Where in your life might you be over-optimizing right now? Is there one area where "good enough" could actually serve you better than "perfect"?

Notice what comes to mind without judgment. We'll explore strategies for addressing these areas in future newsletters.

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